The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-31
A MODEL HALLWAY STATION
That's What Indianapolis Will Have
When the New Depot Is Completed.
Conveniences of the New Trackage System,
Which Will Enable the Railroad People
to Handle Great Crowds with Safety.

The Union railway directors will meet today
to consider matters in reference to the improve
ments in progress at the Union Depot. The
plan of a trackage system, by which the new
passenger station is to be reached, is about com
pleted, and this will be submitted to the board
It is not probable that any material changes
will be made in the arrangement of tracks
Engineer Doran has made. as it is said to be
perfect in meeting the wants of the company.
Mr. Malott thinks the system will hs superior
to any in the country, in looking after Details
safety to the public and in moving trains
were kept constantly in view. The present
system is inferior that the excellence of the
new one is noted at glance. The passenger
station will BE- the center of the system, to
which ready is to be had through exits
and entrances that will enable the company to
manage with ease and safety the greatest crowds.
Entering the station grounds from Illinois
street one will come into jackson Place, which
is to have a width of 120 feet from the curb to
the stations main entrance and a length of 220
feet from Illinois street to the new street. fifty
feet wide, on the east, running from Georgia to
Louisiana street. In Jackson Place two circular
grass plots are TO be made, and in them statues
or fountains are to be erected. The east curb
line on Illinois street is to be carried towards the
building, thus adding to the width of the drive
directly through the main hall of the station the
passenger will enter the train-sheds.
These sheds will be joined to the main build
ing the south side and extend on either side
of it in the direction of Pennsylvania and Ten
nessee streets. The east end of the sheds will
be at point in Meridian street, thirty-eight
thoroughfare and the west at a point
midway between Illinois and Tennessee
streets. The western portion of the sheds will
be $50 feet long, extending over Illinois street
heir 10
line they will have width of 200 feet. which
will give McNabb street on the south width of
thirty five feet AS the passenger goes from the
main building towards the street he will come
into space ITO by lao feet. which is to be used
as waiting-room during the SUNNI er. At
the east and west ends of the sheds is to be
placed a baggage building. $50 by 25 feet. with a
height of two stories. The train shed roof will
also cover these buildings.
Under and in connection with the sheds the
company will operate thirteen lines of tracks,
including two stub-tracks at each end. The
latter will be used for accommodation and sub
urban trains. The other nine tracks are de-
signed for through business. A radical change
is TO be made the platforms under the
sheds from which the trains may be readily
reached. Now, the tracks are flush with the
floor of the depot, but in the system they
to be eight inches below, except at the
trance to the sheds from the main building. and
also at the baggage rooms. At these points the
tracks will be with the floor to permit pas
sengers to cross the tracks at the first point and
to allow trucks to be readily moved. There will
be laid in and at the sides of the sheds three
and a half miles OF new steel rails At the
points where the different roads will connect
apparatus is to be used in controlling the
switches One at each apparatus
can by merely moving lever, admit train to
in it's proper track but it cannot get there
otherwise. and then only on signal that the
connection is all right. In addition to these
tracks. eight are being laid in the lot north of
for the storage of coaches and slespers.
passenger will be able to take
at this point sleeper or parlor-car he wishes at
any time during the day night driveway
between the tracks leading from Tennessee
street is to be constructed, that one can step
from his carriage into the car. In preparing for
this arrangement the company has spent $40. 600
alone for real estate. All freight trains 10
be moved on the south side of the sheds, and to
give additional facilities for this well
increase the passenger tracks. $50. 600 is be-
ing expended in improving the bed Of Pogues
run, near Pennsylvania street Two tracks,
and possibly four. are to be laid there The
system will permit the moving from the sheds
of eighteen trains at time. AT present, within
twenty. eight minutes. at certain times of the
day and night fourteen trains are moved. but
by using the interlocking system all trains can
leave at almost the same hour.
When the improvements completed it will
not be necessary to drive walk across the
tracks at either Illinois or Meridian streets At
the last-named point viaduct, ten feet wide,
for pedestrians is to be erected, and the tunnel
in Illinois street will have sidewalks on both
sides of the roadway. The total width of the
tunnel is to be forty-four feet and that OF the
sidewalks nine feet each. The tunnel entrances,
with starwsys leading to them, will be on the
south side of Louisiana and the south eide of
McNabb streets. In addition these means of
passing the tracks the viaduct between Meridian
and Pennsylvania Streets from Georgia to
South street, will afford crossing for vehicles
and pedestrians. The passenger station, sheds,
viaducts and tunnel will be lighted by electric
ty, the plant for which is to supplied by the
Jenney company. This will require ], 200 lamps
and two engines Of 250-horse power. The COM
pany hopes to have the entire work completed
early next year.